Program Offered: Residential, Online, or Mixed
Total Credits: 21-27
This 21-27 credit Post Master’s Certificate in Counseling is an organized sequence of study designed to add on as an endorsement for licensure to meet state credentialing requirements. The program is not designed for initial licensure but builds on the foundation of courses taken in a previous master’s degree in counseling or a related field. If you have earned a clinical master’s degree but have not completed the current educational requirements for state licensure, this program gives you the specialized academic coursework and field experiences required. All coursework can be taken online, on campus, or a combination of both. An applicant is required to have completed a master's degree in counseling or a related field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and be eligible to pursue licensure in your field in the state where you work.
Here are two Post-Master Certificate specialty tracks to choose from:
•Clinical Mental Health Counseling
•Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling
Rationale
Many states, including Minnesota, have moved or are moving to a required 60 hours of training for counseling licensure. In order to accommodate application requirements for independent clinical licensure, often a minimum of 12 additional credit hours of graduate work beyond a 48-hour counseling program is needed. This Post Master’s Certificate in Counseling will provide the additional coursework to support the 60-hour licensure requirements*. This certificate allows counselors with specializations in other areas (such as addictions, school, or career counseling) or human services professionals to gain additional specialized academic and field experiences currently required for clinical mental health counseling. This certificate also assists those who received their degrees several years ago to meet current educational requirements for licensure eligibility. While this certificate provides the academic requirements for licensure, graduates of this certificate program may still need to meet additional state requirements that include passing a licensure exam and completion of their post-master’s clinical supervision requirements.
Minimum Requirements
A minimum of 21 credits of coursework will be required for completion of the certificate. All students are required to take 511(Introduction to Adlerian Psychology) and 512- Introduction to Graduate Writing and Professional Portfolio. Enrollment in this certificate program includes the development of a personalized program to best meet academic and field experience requirements for professional licensure in MN (and other states). Depending on professional, educational, and clinical backgrounds, credit requirements vary for entering students according to their original degree and credits earned. It is the responsibility of the student to provide evidence identifying the specific coursework or competencies required by your state credentialing organization. This evidence is typically obtained through the student's consultation with the state licensure board. It is recommended that students meet with an academic advisor during their first term to complete a transcript review and course-planning guide. Admitted students will work with their advisors to develop an individualized program plan.
Please Note
- Adler Graduate School cannot guarantee licensure to any student. Licensure status is determined only by the State Licensing Boards based on the student’s location. Adler Graduate School will not be held liable for Board decisions regarding licensure or changes to competencies and requirements.
- Financial aid may be available to students who take an additional 8 credits beyond the required 16 credit hour certificate.
- This certificate program has been approved for Title IV Federal Financial Aid. Please contact our Financial Aid Office for additional information at jeanette@alfredadler.edu.
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